Washing machine



- July 6, 1943. A. H.HA-BERSTUMP ,7 5

WASHING MACHINE Filed May 19, 1939 I 5 Sheets-Shet 1 11V VENTOR 14175194 Hale/15231))! A TTORNE Ys':

July 1943- A. H. HABERSTUMP WASHING MACHINE Filed Ma 19, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 m- VENTOR fi rnsiamz flfreJ /f R Y M,% f A TTOIL'NEY July 6, 1943 A. H. HABERSTUMP WASHING MACHINE Filed May 19, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTORH A TTORNE Y July 6, 1943- HABERSTUMP 2,323,765

WASHING MACHINE Filed May 19, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I I I I I I I INVENTOR FM M fw- TTORNE Y5.

Julyfi, 1 A. H.HABERSTUMP v 2,323,765

WASHING MACHINE v Filed May 19, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5' 11v VENTOR 17/79224 16f fl ;eltsz wfl 9 A TTORNE Y Patented July 6, 1943 I 2,323,765 -WASHING MACHINE amen n. Haberstump, Detroit, Mien, assignor to The Murray Corporation of America, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application May 19, 1939, Serial No. 275,478-

Claims.

My invention relates to washing machines and particularly to a washing machine having a horizontal rotor mounted in a tub which is supported on a cabinet and provided with unique driving and control means.

While various forms of washing machines have been invented and sold in the trade, applicant believes that for simplicity in construction, efficiency in operation and uniqueness of operation and control, the present device is a materially improved product. A base frame is mounted on rollers and supports a driving motor, and locking means for preventing the movement of the frame on the floor. Two side stampings and a front and rear stamping when assembled on the frame form a cabinet forming the support for 'a tub having a drain outlet closed by a valve.

The tub is supported on the inwardly disposed flanges of the side, front and back cabinet panels, while a lid is hinged to the back panel forming a cover for the cabinet which is of box form. A pair of V-belt change speed pulleys having an axially movable central disc forming adjacent sides of the adjacent pair of pulleys are mounted on a crank arm supported by the motor. The pulley on the motor shaft is connected by a belt to one of the V-pulleys on the crank arm while a belt on the other V-pulley of the crank arm is connected to a V-pulley attached to a stub shaft which supports a drum within the tub. The opposite side of the drum is likewise connected by a stub shaft to a bearing on the tub wall.

Two operating handles are provided on the front panel of the cabinet, one operating the drain valve, the other connected to the crank arm of the pair of V-pulleys to change the position of the arm. Cam means are provided between the two levers, so that the valve lever must first be operated before the lever raising the crank arm is operated. Interlocking means is also available to prevent the closing of the drain before the operating mechanism is actuated to lower-the crank arm to decrease the driving speed-of the rotor. After the drum is again rotating at slow speed the valve lever may be actuated to close the valve, which movement of the cam interlocks the operating handle for the drive means to prevent its actuation until the valve is again opened.

The drum is provided with a plurality of apertures throughout its circumferential face, which is inwardly projected at spaced points to tumble the clothes being washed therewithin. An opening is provided on one portion of the cylindrical surface of the rotor or drum over which a door slides to form a closure. The door is also provided with a plurality of apertures to increase the free flow of water through the clothes within the drum.

The driving mechanism for the drum is unique in that no'gears are employed and the change from a low to a high speed for washing and then drying the cloths is produced through the raising of the pair of V-pulleys, which are mounted on the crank arm. when raising the pulleys, the belt from the motor thereto provides a tension in the V-slot while the tension on the belt in the adjacent pulley to the driving drum is reduced so that the upward force causes the central slidable element between the pulleys to shift, thereby decreasing the radius on the pulley driven by the motor belt and increasing the radius of the pulley driving the drum belt. After a high speed operation the lowering of the crank arm applies stress to the belt driving the drum of the rotor while slacking the tension on the motor belt which causes the central element of the pulleys to shift to decrease the radius on the drum belt pulley and increase the radius on the driving belt pulley to thereby reduce the rotation of the drum to low speed operation.

Accordingly, the main objects of my invention are to provide a washing machine embodying a tub having a rotor lournalled in thesides thereof; to mount a tub having a rotor therein on a cabinet attached to a base frame; to construct a .washing machine cabinet having an opening in the top and flanged edges for supporting a tub; to drive the rotor of a washing machine through a change-speed mechanism, embodying a pair of pulleys the effective diameters of which are changeable; to interconnect the drive of a motor to that of a washing machine through a pair of v-belts and pulleys, the central portion between which is shiftable to change the ratios thereof through the movement of the pulleys axle; to interlock the valve of the drain for the tub with the change-speed mechanism, so that the valve must be open before the mechanism may be changed to drive the rotor from low to high speed; to provide interlocking means between the valve actuating handle and the change-speed actuating handle which prevents the closing of the valve until the speed of the rotor has been changed from high to low speed: to mount a washing machine in a box-like cabinet having rollers with locking means provided thereon, rendering the rollers inoperative to thereby lock the cabinet in position; and in general to provide a washing machine which is structure illustrated in Fig. 3-3 thereof;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3, taken on the line 4-4 thereof;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 4, taken on the line 5-5 thereof;

Fig. 6 is a broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 4, taken on the line 8-6 thereof;

Fig.- 7 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 6, taken on the line thereof;

Fig. 8 is a broken view of the operating mechanism illustrated in Fig. 4, when the rotor of the washing machine is being operated at high speed;

Fig. 9 is a view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 8, as viewed from line 99 thereof;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 9, taken on the line ill-l0 thereof;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 4, taken on the line thereof;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of a corner of the cabinet illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 11, taken on the line 3| 3 thereof;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged sectional view of the front corner of the cabinet illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 15 is a view of the interlock mechanism illustrated in Fig. 4 with the parts shown in position of high speed rotor operation; and,

Fig. 16 is a view of 'the locking means for the v cabinet illustrated in Fig. 3.

In Figs. 1 and 2, I have illustrated a cabinet 20 embodying like side panels 2|, front panel 22 and rear panel 23, which are also of like configuration. A base 24, mounted on rollers 25, en-

.gages and supports the lower edges of the side,

' flange of an angle element 34 forming the frame of the base and are secured thereto by a pinrality of bolts 35. Corner gusset plates36 form, with the horizontal flange of the angle element 34, a support for the stud 31 on the caster rollers 25. A brace 38 interconnects the sides of the frame 34 and provides support for the motor 26 at one end while a bracket 39 attached to the front portion of the angle frame 34 provides a support for the opposite end of the motor.

The side panels 2| of the cabinet have frontwardly directed flanges 4| over which inwardly directed flanges 42 at the side of the front panel 22 and rear panel 23 extend to form enclosed tion 44 of the side panels 2| when; the panels 22 and 23 are forced downwardlythereover.

An interlocking relation is provided against the outward spreading of the panels through the outwardly projecting flange 4| on the side panels 2|, being disposed within the inwardly project .ing flange 42 on the front and back panels, while the front panels are prevented from moving outwardly from the side panels by the flange 4| projecting over the corner extension 45 of the side panel. Inwardly directed flanges 48 are provided slightly below the top edge of the panels forming the cabinet, to provide a supporting edge for the tub 3|. On the side panels the flanges 48 at the end extend outwardly'at 49 and are provided with an aperture 5|, as illustrated more clearly in Fig, 12.

A slotted rubber sealing element 52 is disposed about the outwardly directed flange 53 on the tub 3|, which rests upon the flanges 48 of the cabinet and is retained in position by a bolt 54. The top portion of the rubber strip 52 forms a sealing element for the cover 55 which is herein illustrated as being pivoted to theback panel by hinges 56. It is to be understood that this cover may be a separate element which may be bodily removed from the cabinet.

The drum 29 has a plurality of apertures 51 disposed in the cylindrical surface-thereof, and

is also provided with an opening 58 covered by a slide 59 which is likewise provided with a plurality of apertures 51. The slide is supported in a slot in guide elements 6| which may be made of metal, but preferably is made from a resinous material which is unaffected by moisture. Stub shaft supporting hubs 82 are welded or otherwise secured to the sides of the drum for supporting stub shafts 53 which are joumalled in bearing 54, supported in cups riveted or otherwise secured to the sides of the tub and sealed from the interior thereof by a sealing element 88. The stub shaft 83 on the lefthand side of the tub as viewed in Fig. 3, has pinned thereto the V-pulley 28 interconnected by a belt 51 to the outermost V-pulley 68 of the change-speed element 21. motor is interconnected by a V-belt H to the inner pulley portion 12 of the change-speed pulleys 21.

The change-speed pulleys are of conventional form, the central element 13 being axially shiftable on its shaft to change the effective radius of the groove of the pulley 88 and 72 thereof. The

pulleys are mounted on a crank arm 14 for pivotal movement in a sleeve 15 mounted on the motor 28. A link 18 is pivotally secured to the end of the crank arm 14 and to the end of a link 11 secured to a stub shaft 18 which is pivoted on a bracket I9 secured to the side of the tub 3|.

The opposite end of the link 11 is flanged out- Y wardly at 8| to be disposed in the path of the cam element 82 secured to a stub shaft 83 which is likewise pivotally' carried by the bracket 18. A handle 84 is removably keyed to the shaft 83 while a handle 85 is removably keyed to the shaft 18, the sequence of operation of which is controlled by the cam plate 82. The interlock thus provided prevents the handle 85 from being moved until the handle 84 is moved to produce high speed operation of the rotor while the handle A pulley '89 on the must first be actuated'to produce low speed operation before the handle 84 can be moved.

To render the rotor more effective for rolling" the clothes through the water whemcentrlfugally drying the clothes, the material forming t by the side 01, upwardly from which they are tumbled and rolled down the inner face of 'the drum through the apertures of which the water is 'ment 34 by suitable means herein illustrated s agitated when working or 011- when dryl5 Ifhe drain 32 on the bottom of the:. tube.

lI is sealed to the wall of the truncated conical opening 9| by a plate 92 which draws the drain' in abutted sealed relation therewith when secured by bolts 93. A valve 94 is mounted in the wall of the conical opening 9| interconnected by a link 05 to a crank 96 on a shaft 91 having a crank arm 98 extending from one side thereof. Suitable means 09 seal the shaft to the walls of the drain 22. An encased wire I 0| interconnects the cam plate 82 to the arm 98 of the shaft 91 for actuating the valve 94 to open or closed position. When in closed position, the cam plate 82 is in theposition illustrated in Fig. 4 that to intercept the flange 8| on the link II. By this arrangement, the cam plate must flrst b operated to open the valve 94 and move out of interlocking relation with the link 71 before the handle 85 may be operated to increase speed on the drum.

The position of the cam plate and link I'I in the high speed operation of the drum is illustrated in Fig. 15. As is well known, through the movement of the handle 85 and, therefore, the crank arm I4, the tension on one belt is increased while As illustrated in Fig. 14, a sealing strip of felt, I

rubber or the like may be provided between the outwardly projecting flange 4| on the side panels 2I and the inwardly directed flange 42 on the front and rear panels 22 and 23, respectively. The strip preferably is provided with a slot into which the flange 4| projects for retaining the strip in fixed relation thereto, while'the flanged portion I03 extending outwardly therefrom provides abutment for the end of the flange 42.

The aperture 58 in the circumference of the drum has the edges rolled to provide abutments I04 while an offset I05 in the slide 59 limits the movement of the slide on the guideway 6! between said abutments.

The hinge 55, as illustrated in Fig. 11, is of the offset type, having an arcuate portion I06 struck about the pintle I0I which nests under the inwardly disposed portion I08 of the rear panel 23. A slot I09 is provided in the vertically directed flange 48 on the back panel to provide clearance for the arcuate portion of the hinge. A cam H0 is provided on one of the hinges in position to actuate a limit switch II8 when the cover is raised to interrupt the current to the motor 26 systems.

A shaft III extends across the frame near the front end, disposed in slots in the vertical flange of the base element 34; having crank portions H2 in each of which a foot II; is mounted.-

Brackets II4 extend over the shaft and are secured to the horizontal flange .of the base eleby screws. An arm. IIS extends forwardly from .the shaft in a position to be operated by the pressure of the foot of an operator to swing the crank arms I I2 and force the feet I I3 against the floor. This raises the front rollers 25 from the floor and prevents thewashing machine and cabinet from moving. The position of the feet and rollers are illustrated clearly in Figs. 3, 4 and 16 in solid and broken lines. a

The washing machine constructed in this manner is exceedingly eflicient in washing clothes without damaging the fabrics during low speed operation and which functions, when the water.

has been drained from the tub, as a centrifugal drier for the clothes. The cabinet of the machine is unique in that four panels are so interrelated as to bein locked relation when secured at the bottom to the base with a projecting flange at the-top onwhich the tub is secured. The ro-,

tor containing the clothes is journalled in both walls of thetubto prevent gyration while the aperture in the rotor is closed by a slide operating. in slotted guides of a material which is impervious to moisture. The cabinet is mounted on wheels and suitable means are provided for rendering the wheels inoperative to prevent the movement of the machine on the floor. The drive mechanism for the rotor is not only exceedingly simple, but extremely emcient while eliminating gears ordinarily employed in driving V-belts are connected to a pair of change-speed pulleys, the driving ratios of which are changeable. Through the raising or lowering of the shaft of the pulleys the change in speed of rotation of the drum isobtained. Interlocking means are provided to prevent the driving of the drum at high speed when the drain valve'of the tub is closed.

While I have described and illustrated but a single embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions, additions and substitutions may be made therein without departing fromthe spirit and scope of my invention, as set forth in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A washing machine including, in combination, a tub, a drum rotatably mounted in said tub, a motor, variable speed mechanism interconnecting the motor and drum, a drain valve on said tub, manual means for operating said valve, a handle for directly operating said change speed mechanism to vary the speed of rotation of said drum, and means rendering said manual means inefiective when the valve is closed by moving the handle to closed position.

2. A washing machine embodying a tub, a drum rotatably mounted therein, a cabinet, means on said cabinet for supporting said tub, a

' the motor and drum, a lever supported on said tub for actuating sa'id speed change mechanism, a discharge valve in said tub, means pivoted on said tubfor actuating said discharge valve, and interlocking means operated by said pivoted means for preventing the operation of the change speed mechanism before the pivoted means has opened the valve.

3. A washing machine having a tub, a drum mounted in said tub for rotational movement, a pulley attached to said drum, a motor, a pulley on said motor, a change speed unit including a pair of nested V-belt pulleys disposed between said drum and motor. a belt connecting the unit to said motor pulley, a belt connecting the unit to said drum pulley, an operating handle, a link operable by said handle, a second link connecting said first link to said change speed unit whereby the letter may be varied by the handle, and

means for locking said handle against movement when said unit is in position for low speed oper-' ation.

4. A washing machine having a tub, a drum mounted in said tub for rotational movement, a pulley attached to said drum, 9, motor, a pulle on said motor, a change speed unit including a pair of nested V-belt pulleys disposed between said ,drum and motor, a belt connecting the unit to said motor pulley, a belt connecting the unit to said drum pulley, an operating handle, a link operable by said handle, a second link connecting said first link to said change speed unit for changing the speed of the unit, means for locking said handle against movement when said unit is in position for low speed operation and a second handle for releasing said locking means.

5. A washing machine having a tub, a drum mounted in said tub for rotational movement, a pulley attached to said drum, a motor, a pulley on said motor, a change speed unit including a pair of nested V-belt pulleys disposed between said drum and motor, a belt connecting the unit to said motor pulley, a belt connecting the unit to said drum pulley, an operating handle. a link operabl by said handle, a second link connecting said first link to said chang speed unit, an element intercepting the operation of said first link when said unit is in position for low speed operation for maintaining said unit in position, a second handle for operating said element, a drain valve in said tub, and means interconnecting said valve with said element to efiect valve operation in accordance with the speed of operation of said drum.

ALFRED H. HABERSTUMP.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION- -Patent No. 2,5 5,765- July 6, 19145.

ALFRHJ H. HABERS'I'UHP.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numberedpatent requiring correction as follows: Page 5', first column, line 16, for "tube" read "tub"; and second column, lines 58 to 60, inclusive, claim 1, for'xqanual means for operating said valve, ahandle for directly operating said change speed mechanism" read --a handle for directly operating said valve, manual means for operating said change speed mechanism"; and thatthe said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. V

Signed and sealed this 12th day of October, A. 1). 1915.

. Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

